[modwright]

Agreed Ray, I just wanted to get feedback from you guys.  I am installing a pair in my own unit and will be evaluating it.

The Basic unit right now does not have R/C volume at the $1400 price.

The SE unit does include R/C volume and also includes upgraded signal path caps to teflon in coupling applications, as well as upgraded signal path resistors and improved PS design featuring no electrolytic caps.

I am seriously considering increasing the price by $150 for the base unit and including the R/C volume.  I don't want people to feel like they have to dig too deep into their pockes to get the R/C option.  The SE units DO sound better as well as having remote, due to the use of higher quality parts, etcc.  I didn't include the R/C volume in the base unit because I wanted to keep the price down and I had set $1400 as the entry price to begin with.  R/C is a very important selling point for a lot of customers however, and I think that it makes sense to just make it standard and increase the price as necessary.

I would appreciate your feedback.

Dan

[guest1632]

Agreed Ray, I just wanted to get feedback from you guys.  I am installing a pair in my own unit and will be evaluating it.

The Basic unit right now does not have R/C volume at the $1400 price.

The SE unit does include R/C volume and also includes upgraded signal path caps to teflon in coupling applications, as well as upgraded signal path resistors and improved PS design featuring no electrolytic caps.

I am seriously considering increasing the price by $150 for the base unit and including the R/C v ...

Hi Dan, I would suggest the following if possible for the first couple of production runs:
basic $1400, with RC volume (only for the first run, $100)total $1500.
SE $1900 upgraded caps for the supply $100. total $2000.
You did not mention any price for the caps, so I just threw out that extra $100.
Seems like you have to create the "gotta have that" at this price, and the first 100 have that special serial # to create value. Then the price goes up. The first 50 with the upgraded RC for $100 and thereafter $150 or whatever price you have to set. I don't know what your costs are, but personally I like even figures. Plus, it's easier to keep track of. Anyhow, just my two cents worth. . It's also Christmas. (Christmas Special) and all that. Didn't you get some BlackGates for the power supplies?

Ray

[modwright]

I appreciate the input and it helps me in the decision-making process.

The BG caps cost nearly $100 per cap?!  I will consider offering this upgrade.  There needs to be a profit margin here too .

Your idea of adding R/C for $100 on the first run or so is a reasonable idea and I will consider it.

Obviously I do want to make the first 'x' number of units be an excellent value and to enter the market strongly.  Based on the units success, a price increase will not be a problem.  I am honestly not trying to further pad my pockets here, I just need to be sure that I don't lose my shirt and that I can afford to continue to produce them.

Thanks for the feedback!

Dan

[guest1632]

I appreciate the input and it helps me in the decision-making process.

The BG caps cost nearly $100 per cap?!  I will consider offering this upgrade.  There needs to be a profit margin here too :).

Your idea of adding R/C for $100 on the first run or so is a reasonable idea and I will consider it.

Obviously I do want to make the first 'x' number of units be an excellent value and to enter the market strongly.
Hi Dan, Well, even if on the first run, an item is priced close to or at your cost, you will be getting the product out there. Anyway, appreciate to being able to have imput, and I don't own one yet. now once you have it all done, you gotta get 'em out there for reviews. Hey Dan you have a nice Thanksgiving, and I thank God we still have talent in this country to produce good equipment. so take a break for the day, and enjoy some turkey and hopefully some family. Ray

[modwright]

Thanks Ray.  I really appreciate your support.  In the interest of giving credit where credit is due, Alan Kimmel has been consulted during the design process and has played a key role in making the unit what it is today.

It is great to live in a country where capitalism allows for companies like ModWright to exist and have the opportunity to succeed.  I firmly believe that when you take away the incentive and opportunity for the entrepeneur and creative individual to succeed and be rewarded for their work, you limit the potential for growth.  This is what makes our country great.  God Bless the USA.

I hope that you Ray and everyone has a wonderful holiday.  My family and I are taking the weekend off and seeing family.

Take care,

Dan W.

[Chris_B]

Enjoy the weekend Dan (and everyone else).  Come Monday, we want you back to work  .

[modwright]

SIR YES SIR!

[modwright]

Okay guys, the chassis are FINALLY complete, so construction begins this week.  There have been delays from my machine shop and powder-coater, but it is all finally complete.

Everything else is in-house and we are ready to roll.

I am particularly pleased with how the face-plates came out as well as the high-quality of the packing material that was custom made for us by Matrix in Vancouver.  They designed custom black polyethalene(sp?) packing (NOT STYROFOAM) and double-wall boxes.  Everything about this unit is going to be first class, but without Class A prices .

Dan

[guest1632]

Okay guys, the chassis are FINALLY complete, so construction begins this week.  There have been delays from my machine shop and powder-coater, but it is all finally complete.

Everything else is in-house and we are ready to roll.

I am particularly pleased with how the face-plates came out as well as the high-quality of the packing material that was custom made for us by Matrix in Vancouver.  They designed custom black polyethalene(sp?) packing (NOT STYROFOAM) and double-wall boxes.  Everything about this unit is going to be first class, but without Class A prices :).

Dan

[modwright]

Interesting, I have not actually tried them and have no idea if they are of high quality or not.

Dan W.

[MarkR7]

Dan,

Will you be offering a 30-day audition period on the line stages, i.e. allow a return before the 30 days are up? Some very fine manufacturers offer this as a way for the consumer to minimize risk from equipment that may not be very synergistic in their system.

Thanks!

[maxwalrath]

Mark, I wish I could swing a finalized version of this pre, but house expenses come first. I had an early production beta unit, and if Dan offers a trial on the production model, I don't think anyone will be returning it. It's damn good.

Just my 2 cents.

[modwright]

The danger is that some people have no intention of buying the unit and will be returning it no matter what.  We are a small business and it is hard to absorb such costs.  Having said this however, it IS that good .

I will give this some thought.  I first have to build and ship the first 20+ units out of the first 50 that are already pre-sold.

Thanks,

Dan W.

[Bill Baker]

Yes, auditioning is important as well as physically being able to check out a piece to see the quality in the build and workmanship.

 While in home auditions may not always be possible, those in my neck of the woods will be more than welcome to stop in and audition Dan's linestage. Depending on Dan's shipping order, I hope to have mine in and up/running very soon driving a Reference JD801 (with main inputs)!!
 The initial piece coming to NY will be the standard version with the SE version going to our Midwest location. I will have the SE in NY shortly there after.

[Rocket]

Hi Dan,

A good alternative could be for trusted customers who owned your preamp to do an inhome demonstration of your preamp.

It's just a suggestion.

Regards

Rod

[MarkR7]

Hey guys, I wish I could believe you guys when you say "it's damn good" or " it IS that good"...etc, etc.  I'm sure it is good, but the question is, for ME, how good is it, and how good is it in my system??  You obviously can't answer that for me.

I've been in this hobby long enough to know that a systems success is  based mostly on to two important things: system synergy and listening preferences.  I have listened to a lot of great equipment that has graced my system (e.g. a BAT VK-51SE) for extended periods, that just didn't cut it for me.

You have the reviews.  While helpful for me in flagging interesting equipment to try, I would never buy gear at retail, sound unheard, strictly due to favorable reviews.  Again, reviews are very subjective based on reviewers preferences and systems.  That's what makes Audiogon such a great site.  You can try gear at a fraction of the retail cost.  If it doesn't work out, you turn around and resell, hopefully breaking even or at worst, a small loss.

If I buy this preamp, and for some reason I don't like it, I will immediately lose 20% to 40% in order to be able to resell it.  I am not liquid like some with disposable incomes, and there are a lot of us who just can't afford to lose $300 to $700 for something that is not quite what we're looking for.  Ouch!

That being said, and I will get off my soapbox and say this....I would be happy to pay shipping (both ways if I decide to return), prepay the full amount of the linestage at the time of purchase, and perhaps a small fee (1% or so) to cover restocking and administrative costs (if returned), for the opportunity to audition a piece of equipment in the comfort of my own system, for  at least 30 days.  If there's any damage or abuse, take it out of the orig. payment.  A no loss proposition to either party (maybe easier said then done, I dunno).

BTW, I am going to audition a Modwright 9000ES w/Platinum Sig Truth Mods  in my system; luckily there's a friend nearby that has one.  If it sounds like its reputation, then a 999ES or even a 3910 are almost inevitable.  Right now, I'm in need of a preamp, and I would hate to eliminate the Modwright from consideration because I have no access to it.  de Havilland has a 30 day return policy, so guess what I'll be auditioning soon. A Joule 150 is another linestage I'm looking for (pre-owned).

I'm Mark, and I approve this message......yada, yada, yada.

[modwright]

I am listening and do appreciate the need to hear a piece in one's own system.  Please e-mail me directly at modwright@yahoo.com to discuss this directly.

I will seriously consider offering a return option.  First things first though...I have a lot of units to build!

Dan

[modwright]

Hi guys, the chassis are FINALLY done and I am building the first units right now.  I will be shipping very soon now.

Dan

[Chris_B]

[modwright]

The first SWL 9.0SE ships tomorrow and we are getting up to speed.  We had unexpected delays from the machine shop and a snag with the R/C controls, but it is all under way now and we will be building and shipping units as quickly as possible while still maintaining our high standard of quality.

Thanks,

Dan W.